Blogging is a hobby I absolutely adore and will continue to do in a more private venue. Engaging with readers and other blog authors is truly rewarding. However, after careful consideration, I have decided to begin removing my public identity from the world wide web. The nature of the work I am about pursue is such that anonymity is the ideal for the safety of both myself and my family. For the next couple of weeks I will leave my blog public. If you are a reader who would like to continue having access to Hollysphere please email me at the following temporary email address vanishing@bigstring.com. After that however, this blog will become private and only individuals with prior approval will have access.

Although it may seem by the infrequency of my posts that this book is slow reading, the contents are absolutely illuminating. Requiring time for silent contemplation, this is a creation meant to be savored rather then devoured. Approaching the last two chapters, I have returned to the beginning of the book, to sprinkle it with podcasts of the enlightening variety. Truly inspiring and somehow comforting, the dual spiritual study modalities take the idea of mindfulness to another level of consciousness. Again, I have selected some of my favorite quotes from recent readings. Hopefully you will see the windows they open, and feel compelled as I did, towards further exploration. If you do, the accompanying archived web classes are available as are audio and video podcasts.

“The entire civilization is losing itself in doing that is not rooted in Being and thus becomes futile.”

“The paradox is that suffering is caused by identification with form and erodes identification with form.”

“Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?”

“There is only one perpetrator of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness. With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves, and your true power emerges – the power of Presence.”

“Knowing yourself is being yourself, and being yourself is ceasing to identify with content”.

“To be in alignment with what is means to be in a relationship of inner nonresistance with what happens.”

Tolle’s extensive discussion about the ego should resonate with many. The distinction made between the ego and the essence of who we are is especially valuable. Quotes that highlighted this important lesson can be found throughout the text.

“Sometimes letting things go is a far greater act of power then defending or hanging on.”

“Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them.”

“Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists.”

“Spiritual realization is to see clearly that what I perceive, experience, think, or feel is ultimately not who I am, that I cannot find myself in all those things that continuously pass away.”